Luginbill’s Contract Extended
The contract of Al Luginbill, who completed his second season Dec. 1 as San Diego State football coach, was extended by one year, through the 1993 season, SDSU Athletic Director Fred Miller said Tuesday.
“I think it continues to say we’re moving in the direction we want to move,” Miller said. “We’ve got the right guy at the right time in the right spot.
“He has a commitment to the university and is doing things that make a lot of sense. The fact that he understands how to compete on the field, and he is getting youngsters in the program on the degree-track. . . . We’ve got a good scheme, good people. Let’s keep them all together.”
The Aztecs finished 6-5 last season, compiling their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1981-1982. In 1989, Luginbill’s first season, the Aztecs finished 6-5-1.
The Aztecs lost four of their first six games last season before winning four of their last five. Four of the five teams that defeated SDSU will participate in bowl games.
“I’m extremely excited at the future we have here,” Luginbill said. “I believe strongly that (SDSU President Tom Day), the athletic director and leaders in the community have really come to the forefront. They feel, as I feel, San Diego State is going to be the program of the 1990s.
“It’s going to take time. Each year, we’re going to get better. I can’t make promises in wins and losses, but we’re in a re-load mode offensively, and defensively I think we got a lot better in the last five games, especially against the rush.”
Luginbill’s base salary is $66,984 annually and, as a state employee, he will likely receive a cost-of-living increase of between 4 and 5 percent after Jan. 1. His base contract does not include revenue from outside sources such as radio and television shows and public speaking engagements, which make the total package worth more than $100,000.
“I’m very pleased with Coach Luginbill’s performance on the field and with the players; but especially with the strong push he gives to our position with academics,” Day said in a statement.
Seven Aztecs--the most in SDSU history--made the academic all-Western Athletic Conference team this season by obtaining at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
Luginbill named Aztec football coach on Nov. 14, 1988 after serving as an associate athletic director at SDSU for three years.